Wirelessly operated heating device of hot water dispenser

ABSTRACT

A heating device of an instant hot water dispenser is provided with an inlet, an outlet, a PCB, a solenoid valve, a flow meter, a first heating unit, and a second heating unit. The PCB includes a first transformer for supplying DC to the first heating unit, a second transformer for supplying DC to the second heating unit, a receiver for receiving pulses of IR light from a remote control, and a microcontroller electrically connected to the PCB for controlling the solenoid valve, sensing a flow rate measured by the flow meter, and communicating with the receiver so that an operation of the remote control wirelessly commands the microcontroller to control electric current to the first and second heating units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to hot water dispensers and more particularly to a wirelessly operated heating device of a hot water dispenser.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional rapid electric heating water dispenser comprising a housing, a base, an electric heating element disposed in the housing, a hot water dispensing valve, a hot water outlet, a reservoir on a lower part of the base connected with the hot water outlet through a hot water pipe, the electric heating element, and the hot water drain valve, the electric heating element including a water pipe and an electric heating tube which are in direct contact with each other, a liquefaction inner tube disposed between the outlet of the water pipe and the hot water dispensing valve.

However, the water dispenser not only consumes energy greatly but also does not have the desired rapid heating function. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a heating device of a hot water dispenser comprising, in combination a remote control; an inlet; an outlet; a printed circuit board (PCB); a solenoid valve; a flow meter; a first heating unit; and a second heating unit; wherein the inlet, the solenoid valve, the flow meter, the first heating unit, the second heating unit, and the outlet are in fluid communication sequentially; wherein on the PCB is electrically connected to both the solenoid valve and the flow meter; wherein the first heating unit includes a heating element and a winding fluid channel; wherein the second heating unit includes a heating element, a winding fluid channel, and a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of water flowing out of the winding fluid channel thereof and sending the sensed temperature to the microcontroller; and wherein the PCB includes a first transformer for supplying direct current (DC) to the first heating unit, a second transformer for supplying DC to the second heating unit, a receiver for receiving pulses of infrared (IR) light from the remote control, and a microcontroller electrically connected to the PCB for controlling the solenoid valve, sensing a flow rate measured by the flow meter, and communicating with the receiver so that an operation of the remote control wirelessly commands the microcontroller to control electric current supplied from the first transformer to the heating element of the first heating unit and control electric current supplied from the second transformer to the heating element of the second heating unit.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heating device of a hot water dispenser according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the heating device;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the heating device of FIG. 2 with the cover removed;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the first heating unit;

FIG. 4B is an exploded view of the first heating unit;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the second heating unit;

FIG. 5B is an exploded view of the second heating unit; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the heating device installed in the hot water dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a heating device 2 of a hot water dispenser in accordance with the invention is shown. A remote control 1 is provided to control the activation of the hating device 2. A parallelepiped housing 21 is provided to contain components of the heating device 2. An inlet 211 and an outlet 212 are provided on top of the housing 21. The components in the housing 21 are discussed below.

A printed circuit board (PCB) 22 is provided on a left upper portion. A solenoid valve 23 is provided on a left lower portion. A flow meter 24 is provided on a portion adjacent to a bottom. First and second heating units 25, 26 are provided on lower and upper portion of the right side respectively. The inlet 211 is in fluid communication with an inlet port of the solenoid valve 23. An outlet port of the solenoid valve 23 is in fluid communication with an inlet of the flow meter 24. An outlet of the flow meter 24 is in fluid communication with an inlet of the first heating unit 25. An outlet of the first heating unit 25 is in fluid communication with an inlet of the second heating unit 26. An outlet of the second heating unit 26 is in fluid communication with the outlet 212.

The PCB 22 is electrically connected to a DC (direct current) output of a transformer (not numbered) thereon. The transformer is electrically connected to an AC (alternating current) power via a power cord 31 and converts AC power into DC (direct current). The PCB 22 is electrically connected to both the solenoid valve 23 and the flow meter 24 for supplying DC power for their operations. On the PCB 22 there are provided a first transformer 221 electrically connected to the AC power via the power cord 31 and converting AC into DC to be consumed by the first heating unit 25, a second transformer 222 electrically connected to the AC power via the power cord 31 and converting AC into DC to be consumed by the second heating unit 26, a receiver 223 adapted to receive pulses of IR (infrared) light from the remote control 1, and a microcontroller 224 electrically connected to the DC output of the PCB 22 and being in signal communication with the receiver 223 so that a user may operate the remote control 1 to wirelessly control an activation of the heating device 2 (i.e., hot water output) and temperature of the hot water being dispense.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the rectangular first heating unit 25 includes, from top to bottom, a cover C1, a heating board C2 having a heating element C21 mounted thereon, a fluid channel board C3 having a winding fluid channel C31, and a base C4 releasably secured to the cover C1 to contain the heating board C2 and the fluid channel board C3 therein. The winding fluid channel C31 is disposed below the heating element C21.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the rectangular second heating unit 26 includes, from top to bottom, a cover D1, a heating board D2 having a heating element D21 mounted thereon, a fluid channel board D3 having a winding fluid channel D31, and a base D4 releasably secured to the cover D1 to contain the heating board D2 and the fluid channel board D3 therein. The winding fluid channel D31 is disposed below the heating element D21. A temperature sensor D22 is mounted on the heating board D2 and is adapted to sense temperature of hot water flowing out of the winding fluid channel D31. The sensed temperature is then sent to the microcontroller 24.

The microcontroller 24 also controls opening or closing of the solenoid valve 23. Further, the microcontroller 24 can measure flow rate of water through the flow meter 24. The microcontroller 24 can control electric current supplied from the second transformer 222 to the heating element D21.

In operation, water from a supply line is filtered by a filter 32. The filtered water next flows to the inlet 211. A user may use the remote control 1 to deactivate the heating device 2. As a result, cold water flows out of the heating device 2 for dispensing. Alternatively, the user may use the remote control 1 to activate the heating device 2, control electric current supplied to the heating elements C21, D21, and control flow through the solenoid valve 23 all via the microcontroller 24. It is understood that the hotter of the water being dispensed will be if more electric current is supplied. Flow rate control of the solenoid valve 23 also rises or lowers temperature of water being dispensed. It is envisaged by the invention that an instant hot water dispensing can be effected.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A heating device of a hot water dispenser comprising, in combination: a remote control; an inlet; an outlet; a printed circuit board (PCB); a solenoid valve; a flow meter; a first heating unit; and a second heating unit; wherein the inlet, the solenoid valve, the flow meter, the first heating unit, the second heating unit, and the outlet are in fluid communication sequentially; wherein on the PCB is electrically connected to both the solenoid valve and the flow meter; wherein the first heating unit includes a heating element and a winding fluid channel; wherein the second heating unit includes a heating element, a winding fluid channel, and a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of water flowing out of the winding fluid channel thereof and sending the sensed temperature to the microcontroller; and wherein the PCB includes a first transformer for supplying direct current (DC) to the first heating unit, a second transformer for supplying DC to the second heating unit, a receiver for receiving pulses of infrared (IR) light from the remote control, and a microcontroller electrically connected to the PCB for controlling the solenoid valve, sensing a flow rate measured by the flow meter, and communicating with the receiver so that an operation of the remote control wirelessly commands the microcontroller to control electric current supplied from the first transformer to the heating element of the first heating unit and control electric current supplied from the second transformer to the heating element of the second heating unit. 